Manual processing has its drawbacks: It’s slow, it’s obscure... and you lack control - you don’t really know where invoices are in the process or what outstanding liabilities are involved. It takes a lot of manpower and there is always the risk of clerical errors. Still, an overwhelming number of companies struggle along with traditional accounts payable processing, in spite of the fact that well-proven process automation has been available for more than a decade. Here are ten very good reasons to change.

• Visibility and Control
  • You have all invoice information at your fingertips: supplier data, amount to be paid, taxes, line item details, workflow status, audit trail and invoice images.
• Improved Bottom Line
  • Reduced headcount, and early payment discounts in combination with the elimination of late payment penalties, double payment and fraudulent invoices make a substantial contribution to your bottom line.
• Timely and Correct
  • Financial Reports You have immediate access to every kind of statistic you require, in charts, graphs and tables, such as discount reports, production volume report, and lead time report.
• SOX Compliance Support
  • Invoice automation provides the complete audit trail which is fundamental for compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
• Reduced Headcount
  • Advanced OCR eliminates the need for manual keying. Manual input is only required for verification of the few invoices where there are discrepancies.
• No Late Payment Penalties
  • Automated accounts payable workflow typically reduces the invoice cycle time by 50 to 80%, which gives you ample time to work within payment terms.
• Early Payment Discounts
  • With automated approval of most purchase order invoices and a smooth workflow for the rest, chances are that you can negotiate a number of favorable payment terms and price lists.
• Improved Cash Flow Management
  • Visibility and control, along with timely and accurate reports, facilitate healthy cash flow decisions. Late payments penalties can be avoided while early payment discounts can be capitalized.
• Fewer Errors
  • Automated input eliminates errors. Automated determination of invoice amounts will highlight any clerical error on the part of the supplier. A check against the purchase order in your database will pinpoint any deviation.
• Reduce Fraud
  • Since every invoice is checked against AP data, no unknown supplier will have a chance to slip by. Invoice number control stops any invoice from being entered twice.